Bulletin – April 6, 2014

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who wish to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, or 16th. Please call the Parish Office to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.

REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER

Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It celebrates the freeing of the Jews who were slaves during the time of Moses. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. At this time, their meals celebrate this momentous historical Jewish Event.

Why do we Christians celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week.

The menu is identical to the Seder supper’s menu and the meal is “pot luck” – each person brings a dish for their table.

Please call Ed Shiller at 647-407-2953 or 647-352-3123 or email him at ed@edshiller.com by Wednesday, April 9th to book your table of 6 or 8 or to have your name added to a table.

DAY OF CONFESSION

Cardinal Collins has designated Wednesday, April 9th as the Archdiocesan Day of Confession. Every parish in the Archdiocese is making time available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on that day.

Fr. Brando and Fr. Bernard will be available for this important sacrament from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon and from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. All are encouraged and welcomed to receive this sacrament of pardon and peace.

At 7:30 P.M., there will be a Reconciliation Service. This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God. Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.

FERTILITYCARE TORONTO EASTER EGG SALE

This Weekend, April 5th and 6th

To raise funds for FertilityCare Toronto, the St.Gabriel’s Youth Group will once again be selling hand-made Belgian dark chocolate or milk chocolate Easter eggs for $3.00 each before and after all the Masses this weekend. Your support will help the Centre promote and maintain their service in the Diocese.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for children with special needs…

We have always tried to expose our deaf children to both communities. As their parents, we have talked to them and tried to answer their questions when they saw someone using sign language and they had basic sign language books. Then one day our oldest son, Ethan, said he would like to learn sign language. We discovered Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer camp and enrolled him in the program. The following year Gavin joined his older brother and they both wanted to go again. We also put our name in for the Family Communication program because we wanted to support our children. These opportunities increased the boys’ awareness of the deaf community and also helped them gain respect for different ways of communication. They enjoyed both experiences as did we. We all hope to take part in the Family program again. Last year more than 600 deaf children received support through Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer Camps.

ShareLife For 2013: $193,410
ShareLife to Date: $62,066

Next ShareLife Sunday – May 4, 2014
Please give generously. You can work wonders!

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you so much to the volunteers who prepared 117 casseroles for March! For April, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of April 26th/27th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. There are now 3 different recipes available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website. If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall. With everyone struggling at this time, these donations are more important than ever. Please be as generous as your means allow.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

SERVICE OF TENEBRAE

You are invited to celebrate the service of Tenebrae being held at St. Bonaventure’s Church on April 11th at 8:00 P.M. Tenebrae retells the story of the Passion through a collection of readings and sung responses, which are provided by the gentlemen of the Seraphim Men’s Chorus. Tenebrae is certainly a wonderful way to prepare for Holy Week. We look forward to seeing you there!

THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION 2014

THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS
VISION TV

Part 1 – Monday, April 14th at 6:00 P.M.
Repeated at 10:00 P.M. EDT

Part 2 – Tuesday, April 15th at 6:00 P.M.
Repeated at 10:00 P.M. EDT

The National Catholic Mission 2014, “The Gift of Forgiveness,” will be broadcast on VISIONTV on Monday, and Tuesday of Holy Week at 6:00 P.M. (repeated at 10:00 P.M. EDT)

This year’s Mission looks at how the hurts and cruelties we inevitably experience during the first half of our lives, at school, at home and at work, may be a source of the anger and resentment we feel in our later years. It will offer a pathway to help us rediscover a mellow and compassionate heart.

FINANCE CORNER

DIRECTION OF SCHOOL SUPPORT

If you have been a Separate School Supporter and have moved, you may not realize that your tax support automatically defaults to the Public School system. If you would like to be a Separate School supporter, please pick up a form in the Parish office.

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.